Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit detectives arrested eight men after an undercover operation at Beach and Peach Urban Park in Southside Estates following complaints about illegal sexual activity at the park.
JSO Media Relations Manager Christian Hancock said the department received numerous complaints over the past several months from people and families who said they were encountering improper activity while trying to use the park for recreation.
Hancock said JSO does not have an exact number of complaints, but said they were coming in daily until detectives began working the park.
“What families and individuals were reporting was there seemed to be a lot of extracurricular activity in this area,” Hancock said. “It was unwarranted actions being taken by individuals that, again, those of us that visit the parks for family endeavors, they knew there was something going on, they couldn’t put their finger on it, but it seemed to stem towards improper sexual activity going on at the park.”
That led the Vice Unit to begin an undercover operation.
According to JSO, detectives placed an undercover officer at the park on Oct. 1. In one day, eight men were arrested after approaching the undercover detective and soliciting a sexual act. JSO said some of the men also exposed themselves while speaking with the detective.
All eight men were arrested on suspicion of offering to commit lewdness: John Aguirre, 62; Peter Smith, 63; George Freeman, 72; Cedric Jones, 56; Alejandro Brioso Martinez, 37; Tajmaus Johnson Jr., 28; Florentino De La Cruz, 47; and Elkin Espitia, 45.
Two of the men also face drug-related charges, while De La Cruz was charged with exposing his sexual organs in public.
Hancock said undercover detectives have to establish that a person’s actions cross the legal threshold before making an arrest. He said detectives working undercover are trained to identify advances and offers that reach the level of criminal behavior.
“What these individuals are looking for is, they’re looking for sexual activity. No matter what type it is,” Hancock said. “They are looking to engage in sexual activities. So they make advances, they make offers, they make suggestions.”
He said undercover operations can immediately curtail activity at a particular location, but that does not mean the activity will never return.
“Once we go in and we make these arrests, we have to make arrests in cases like this very quickly, because, again, once word gets out, that activity will stop at that park,” Hancock said. “This curtailed this activity, but it might move to another part.”
He said the department will continue patrolling parks throughout Jacksonville.
Beach and Peach Urban Park is open from sunrise to sundown and includes a five-acre pond, fishing, hiking and bike trails, picnic shelters and a nonmotorized boat launch, according to the city.
People who regularly use the park said they have had different experiences.
Diana Dover said she has lived in the area for 25 years. She remembers the park when more families visited, but said things have changed. Dover said she personally witnessed sexual activity while walking through the park.
“I’ve actually been walking through the trail before and caught them doing illegal sex. And that would be terrible for her children to see, you know?” Dover said. “I’m scared without my dog. I won’t go through there.”
After learning about the arrests, Dover said she was relieved but wants the department to maintain a stronger presence at the park from now on.
“I would just pray to God that it gets better here so that we can have the families, with the children, and all that. Again, like the old times,” Dover said.
Anthony Cecchini, who comes to the park about twice a week to fish, said he was surprised to hear about the arrests.
“It’s just surprising to come out here. It’s a nice, peaceful area. You don’t think anything like that’s going to happen out here, but it’s definitely something to be concerned about,” Cecchini said. “Most people are just doing their own thing, walking the trails, riding their bikes.”
Hancock said anyone who sees or experiences similar activity at a Jacksonville park should report it rather than confront anyone themselves.
Hancock said the department will continue addressing complaints even when its work is not immediately visible.
“We appreciate the community. Let us know what’s going on,” Hancock said. “It is not something you’re gonna see us working, right? It is not a lot of white cars with blue lights flashing. But understand, when you make the complaint, we will start working with their issues, and we’ll get to the bottom of them.”